Ecoslops and Suez Canal Economic Zone ink agreement

Further to the signing of an agreement for a detailed feasibility study in January 2018, Ecoslops and Suez Canal Economic Zone have taken another step towards the implementation of a collection, reception and treatment unit for maritime oil wastes, under the auspices of the French and Egyptian governments.

The new agreement, based on the positive outcomes of the feasibility study, foresees the finalisation of the technical studies in 2019, as well as the development of a financial plan for both maritime assets for collection and a facility for the collection and treatment of maritime oil wastes (MARPOL Port Reception Facility) in Port Saïd. Project implementation may start at the end of this year.

The project includes the deployment of a collection vessel, as well as the construction of a reception and treatment facility on a 2 ha. Plot of land in the new port area in East Port Saïd (at the immediate proximity of the future RoRo terminal, which will be operated by the Bolloré-Mitsui-NYK consortium, and of the existing container terminal which is as for now operated by Maersk). This agreement already includes the possibility for Ecoslops to establish in Suez, at the South end of the Canal, according to the same principle. Once the volumes of collected and treated oil wastes will be sufficient, an Ecoslops' P2R micro-refinery unit may be deployed and operated for their valorisation.

The recovery potential of the oil wastes transiting through the Suez Canal is estimated at more than 40 000 tpy, on the basis of 18 000 canal transits and 7000 port calls. This project aims to contribute to strenghtening the competitiveness of the Suez Canal and of the Egyptian Ports. The project also benefits from the active support of the French government, through the granting of financial assistance to the study (FASEP).